Gladiolus
Gladiolus, commonly called "Glads," produce large, colorful flowers that grow on tall spikes, or stems with sword-shaped leaves. They come in a variety of colors including green, orange, pink, purple, red, salmon, white, and yellow.
Family: Iridaceae
Species: Gladiolus spp.
Origin: South Africa
Symbolizes: Gladiolus means little sword in Latin. They represent strength and integrity. They can also symbolize infatuation.
Also Known As: Sword Lily, Glads
Care, Handling & Design
Temperature: 34-38F (1-3C)
Humidity: 75-85%
Water: Medium water quality. Avoid fluoridated and softened water.
Vase Life: 6-10 days
What to Look for When Purchasing
Ethylene has been shown to cause abortion of unopen florets. Ask if your supplier has treated the product with an ethylene action inhibitor. Avoid stems with brown or shriveled florets. Avoid stems in which foliage exhibits tip burn. Choose spikes that have a few open florets. Flowers should have 1-5 stems showing color.
Foam Info
Performs well
Design Tips
Miniature cultivars available. Gladiolus make excellent line flowers and can provide a lot of height for larger, showy arrangements. In any arrangement, associate with other flowers that have similar vase life characteristics.
Ethylene Sensitivity
Low
Pest & Disease Information
Gladiolus are resilient to diseases post-harvest, except for when exposed to ethylene.
Troubleshooting
Flower fade/translucency due to ethylene and/or high temperatures. Remaining florets do not open due to early harvest, stored too long, extreme temperatures, and/or low humidity. Petal and foliage burning due to excessive fluoride. Avoid fluoridated water. Gladiolus stem ends are prone to developing a biofilm formation when in water due to bacterial growth. Sensitive to leaf yellowing. Use bulb flower food. Store upright if possible as Gladiolus tend to bend and deform.
Resources
Product Usage
For optimal care of Gladiolus, please reference the chart of products below. Make sure to select your region to see which products are available.